In the future, Earth becomes a relic of the mythical era.

Chapter 218 "Strategic Planning"

"See Your Highness."

Bai Juyi, Liu Yuxi, Wang Jian, and Song Shenxi, who was angered and left yesterday, were also among them.

Cui Chenglin and Cui Hong followed behind him.

There was also a young man I had never seen before; judging from his clothes and demeanor, he must come from an extraordinary background.

From the moment she came in, she stared at him with a look of curiosity.

Although Xie Lingxin is still a "deposed prince," these people insist on treating him with the respect due to a prince.

It is clearly expressing a certain stance.

Xie Lingxin stood up: "Gentlemen, there's no need for such formalities."

He had never been treated like this in both of his lives.

Bai Juyi! Liu Yuxi!
They bowed to him!
Feeling elated is definitely an understatement.

Fortunately, he was quite accomplished in cultivating his mind, so he didn't lose his composure.

He's mentally sound; he knows he still needs to put on a good show.

What is your current public persona?
This is what's being said in the capital city now:

After years of enduring humiliation and biding his time, he finally spoke up for the people, denounced the evil deeds of the Shence Army, and vehemently denounced the powerful eunuchs of the court. He was a valiant and wise king who risked his life to personally kill a Shence general!
Regardless of the actual situation, the persona needs to be established!

Liu Yuxi said solemnly, "Rites must not be abandoned!"

According to Xie Lingxin's brief contact, Bai Juyi was refined and unconventional in nature, and possessed profound wisdom, as can be seen from his poems that have been passed down to later generations: benefiting all people while cultivating one's own virtue.

As he said: "Articles should be written to suit the times, and songs and poems should be composed to suit the events."

Emphasis should be placed on practicality and timing; do what is feasible, and retreat when it is not.

Liu Yuxi was upright and intolerant of injustice, and somewhat arrogant.

In the most well-known "Inscription of a Humble Abode", there is a line that reads, "I converse and laugh with learned scholars, and there are no uncultured people among my visitors."

This alone is enough to show his temperament.

I look down on you; you don't even have the right to talk to me.

They don't hide anything at all!
The saying goes, "A mountain is not famous for its height, but for the immortals who dwell there; water is not sacred for its depth, but for the dragons that inhabit it."

This also shows that he was self-confident in his talent and had a carefree attitude.

Song Shenxi, putting aside his literary reputation, is certainly a competent politician.

As for Wang Jian... never mind.

Even Liu Yuxi, known for his arrogance and unconventional personality, could say such a thing, which clearly indicates a certain consensus.

Xie Lingxin no longer needs to test her.

Since I have the surname "Li", I should be able to trust these people in front of me.

"A ten-acre pond, like a mirror, reflects the sky and clouds. How can it be so clear? Because it has a source of living water..."

Bai Juyi stroked his beard and said, "With Your Highness's words, my Lüdao Garden will probably be recorded in history."

Liu Yuxi said, "You are shameless! How do you know that His Highness's poem was written for your garden?"

Wang Jian kept shaking his head and praising, "Good, good, how can the canal be so clear? Because it has a source of living water... What a wonderful saying, 'because it has a source of living water'!"

Cui Chenglin stood to the side, his face also showing a hint of surprise.

It seems this prince has a lot hidden away.

He is shrewd and capable, skilled in both literature and martial arts.

Many people have been saying lately that he has grand ambitions, and it seems they might not be exaggerating...

Cui Hong looked at him with surprise, as if to say: You really know how to do that?
I really don't know how...

The young man, whom he had never seen before, looked at him with even more curiosity, as if he was eager to try and had a lot to say.

However, due to their status and the occasion, they found it difficult to speak up.

Xie Lingxin thought to himself, "You gentlemen need not flatter me. I only obtained this by chance."

Song Shenxi smiled knowingly and said, "Your Highness, could your poem have another meaning?"

Xie Lingxin looked at him without saying a word.

Song Shenxi said, "Does Your Highness still blame me for my rudeness yesterday?"

Xie Ling thought to himself, "Grand Secretary Song is concerned about my safety, so how could he have been impolite?"

Song Shenxi sighed, "So Your Highness knew? Has Your Highness changed your mind now?"

Instead of answering, Xie Lingxin asked, "Your Excellency, I have a question I would like to ask you."

"Your Highness, please speak."

"Is Your Excellency aware of the great flood in Bianzhou?"

After Xie Lingxin finished speaking, she stared straight at Song Shenxi.

Others reacted in various ways.

Bai Juyi, Liu Yuxi, and Wang Jian all looked puzzled.

Cui Chenglin's expression changed drastically.

Although Song Shenxi did not show any obvious reaction, the fleeting emotion in his eyes had already told him the answer.

Xie Lingxin smiled wryly.

Song Shenxi sighed deeply: "So that's what Your Highness was thinking about... I am ashamed!"

Xie Lingxin said in a deep voice, "Your Excellency, we can certainly proceed slowly, but the people of Bianzhou may not be able to wait."

Song Shenxi bowed and said, "Recently, it has been said throughout the capital that Your Highness is a valiant and wise king, and you truly deserve the title!"

"I had many concerns before, and although I knew that the eunuch faction was concealing the extent of the disaster and secretly embezzling disaster relief funds and grain, I had no choice but to tolerate it,"

"Since Your Highness is so willing, why should I hesitate to sacrifice myself? Your Highness must already have a plan in mind. If you have any orders, I will obey without question!"

Bai Juyi and the others then understood.

I had indeed heard that there was a major flood in Bianzhou.

But no one expected the eunuch faction to be so audacious!

They even dared to embezzle disaster relief funds and supplies!
Xie Lingxin said, "Grand Secretary Song, I would like to meet some high-ranking officials in the court. Would you be so kind as to introduce me?"

Song Shenxi asked, "Who is it?"

“Li Xun, Shu Yuanyu, Qiu Shiliang, Zheng Zhu.”

Xie Lingxin spoke a few words slowly.

Everyone present, except for Cui Hong and the unfamiliar young man, was stunned. Song Shenxi pondered and said, "Li Xun and Shu Yuanyu are both Grand Secretaries of the current court, and they have always wanted to eliminate the eunuch faction, but they have never had the opportunity."

"Although Qiu Shiliang is a eunuch, he is a man of the Ninth Prince, the Prince of Dai. Now, he has been promoted by the Prince of Dai, who is taking away his power in the Divine Strategy Bureau. He is destined to be at odds with Wang Shouchang to the death."

"But Zheng's note..."

Song Shenxi asked in bewilderment, "I have heard of this man. He came from a poor family and was an itinerant doctor. I wonder how he gained the trust of Wang Shoucheng, who promoted him personally. Now he is the Minister of the Imperial Stud and concurrently the Grand Censor."

"Wang Shoucheng was incredibly kind to him, and was one of his most trusted confidants,"

"Why, Your Highness..."

Because he's a traitor!
Xie Lingxin had already learned about all the current court officials from Su Zhen.

This girl, a mere maid, actually knows everything about the court officials!
It made him feel like he had struck gold.

Some of them reminded him of a period of history.

Wang Shoucheng was eliminated by these people working together!
Wang Shoucheng wielded immense power, but eliminating him was also quite simple.

One cup of poisoned wine is enough!
However, the process is definitely not that simple.

In the history he knew, after Li Xun became prime minister, he used various means to divide Wang Shoucheng's military power. Then, he joined forces with Shu Yuanyu and Qiu Shiliang to devise a plan. Through Zheng Zhu, a double agent, Wang Shoucheng was made to lower his guard, and then he was poisoned with a cup of wine to kill this powerful eunuch!
Now, Wang Shoucheng has lost power because of the commotion he caused, and Qiu Shiliang is there to check and balance him.

If we were to win over Zheng Zhu, this traitor, and repeat "history," it wouldn't be difficult.

I, this "deposed king," am certainly not capable of accomplishing anything.

Li, Shu, and Qiu, these three people with verifiable achievements, became the best executors and collaborators.

Xie Lingxin's concern was actually about the impact of Wang Shoucheng's death.

This dead eunuch has countless followers in the palace and the army. If there is no proper handling of the aftermath, it will cause great chaos.

There is a way to deal with this.

Even an official like Bai Juyi, who held a high-ranking position but was semi-retired and "impoverished," could live in such a mansion and garden.

The situation of other officials in the Great Zhou Dynasty can be imagined.

What was the living environment like for Wang Shouchang, the head of the eunuchs?
If we really investigate him, we'd probably find out everything just by looking at where he lives.

He was certain that there were countless instances of overstepping boundaries in that dead eunuch's household.

With the methods of Li Xun and his associates, and the assistance of people like Song Shenxi, it wouldn't be difficult to label Wang Shoucheng as a "rebellious traitor."

It just so happens that the words "Nine Thousand Years Old" that he had used to vehemently criticize the eunuch faction have already become widely known in the capital.

It even shows a tendency to spread.

Countless officials, both in and out of court, harbored fear and hatred towards the eunuch faction and Wang Shoucheng because of the title "Nine Thousand Years Old."

What he wanted to do was simply to solidify Wang Shoucheng's ambition to become "Nine Thousand Years Old" after Wang Shoucheng's death, which would be enough to resolve everything.

No matter how loyal his followers were, they would never risk being branded as "traitors" for the sake of a dead man.

"Grand Secretary Song need not ask any further questions. If the matter can be accomplished, I will inform you myself."

Xie Lingxin pondered in her heart, but did not intend to reveal everything now.

They also had to put on an air of profound mystery.

Song Shenxi, being the prime minister, quickly guessed a thing or two about the people he mentioned, based on their status, position, and character.

He couldn't guess the specifics, but he could figure out Xie Lingxin's purpose.

He was startled: "Your Highness, although Wang Shoucheng is a eunuch, his martial arts skills are unparalleled, and he is not someone that ordinary people can get close to!"

Xie Ling thought to himself, "I know, that's why I need to meet those people first."

Since these people were able to fight Wang Shoucheng, they were certainly not ordinary people.

What he most wanted to see was Zheng Zhu, Wang Shoucheng's confidant.

This man was merely an itinerant doctor, yet he gained Wang Shoucheng's trust and rose to his current position.

His medical skills are probably extremely unusual.

People with excellent medical skills are often also adept at using poison.

This explains why Wang Shoucheng was poisoned to death by him.

Although Song Shenxi didn't quite understand, after thinking about the prince's recent actions, he decided to trust him for the time being.

“Since Your Highness says so, I will naturally comply. In that case, I will arrange for Your Highness to meet these four people tonight.”

Xie Lingxin stood up and excitedly grasped his hand: "Good, whether we can rid the country of traitors depends entirely on the Grand Secretary!"

"Your Highness!"

"Grand Secretary!"

Xie Lingxin's energetic performance moved everyone present, leaving them with expressions of excitement, emotion, and heartfelt appreciation.

I wish I could step forward and express my loyalty to the country and to His Highness!

Song Shenxi is very reliable.

That very night, Xie Lingxin was secretly arranged to meet with the four people.

The four men were also surprised that King Jing wanted to see them.

However, given his recent reputation, he did not refuse.

After Xie Lingxin's impassioned performance, the four of them excitedly declared, "We are willing to die for Your Highness!"
In fact, Xie Lingxin could tell that these four people all had different intentions.

So much the better.

It's not that they have no ideas, it's that they have no desires.

These people are no pushovers either.

Li Xun and Shu Yuanyu were full of clever ideas.

Qiu Shiliang, this eunuch, was actually a martial arts master at least at the title level.

Zheng Zhu was simply a king of medicine and a king of poison!

If it weren't for his status as Prince Jing, and Song Shenxi's presence by his side...

These people probably wouldn't even give him a second glance.

Through his performance and persuasion, along with a clever "arrangement," the four men were actually convinced by him and agreed to take action against Wang Shoucheng!

Li and Shu had long harbored this intention, but Qiu Shiliang had no choice but to comply.

Zheng Zhu, on the other hand, was a wolf in sheep's clothing! He had long been unwilling to be subordinate to Wang Shouchang, a mere eunuch!
It hits it off.

With these people taking action, and Xie Lingxin's own strategic planning, things went surprisingly smoothly.

Just a few days later, a terrifying power suddenly erupted from a side hall in Ziwei City...

(End of this chapter)